Bennigan’s to locate at the Panama City Mall

By Randal Yakey / The News Herald

Published: Monday, May 6, 2013 at 06:38 PM.

“I know this market. I learned about it in the mid-’90s. It is one of the great secrets of Florida,” Mangiamele said. “We’re going to open up again in Miami, were looking at Orlando and we’re just about to start construction in Melbourne, Fla. So, here in the Panhandle, this little jewel, we want to reintroduce Bennigan’s.”

Mangiamele admitted Bennigan’s “suffered from “brand drift’” in 2008 when the brand seem to get lost with all the other similar type brands and filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2008.

However, Mangiamele said he expects a full recovery of the brand name.

“We’re revolutionizing casual dinning,” Mangiamele said. “I think causal dinning has been in a coma for about seven to 10 years.”

Besides Florida, the restaurant chain is looking to add at least one new location each in Texas, Tennessee and Virginia.

Mangiamele has served in the same capacity with Salsarita’s Inc., the Fresh Cantina and Aegis Investment Management (Golf) Inc.

PANAMA CITY — Bennigan’swill open its first restaurant in the Bay County area this fall inside the former Ruby Tuesday’s at the Panama City Mall.

Paul M. Mangiamele, who serves as the president and chief executive officer of Bennigan’s Franchising Company LLC, promised a new look and prototype for the brand.

“I’m calling it the Bennigan’s renaissance,” Mangiamele said.

Mangiamele has brought in David Hollinger, of Hollinger Restaurant Group, to run the new Bennigan’s. Hollinger, a native of Oxford, Miss., is not new to the restaurant business. He said he understands the long hours that lie ahead and plans to move to Panama City Beach.

“We’re going through some mega changes and it is going to look a lot different than it did before,” Hollinger said of the new Bennigan’s. “We thought the 23rd Street would be our best location.”

The permits have been pulled, Hollinger said, but work has not yet begun. Once open, the restaurant is expected to seat about 225 people. Hollinger said the restaurant will hire between 100 and 125 people.

Mangiamele said franchisees go through a vetting process.

“I know this market. I learned about it in the mid-’90s. It is one of the great secrets of Florida,” Mangiamele said. “We’re going to open up again in Miami, were looking at Orlando and we’re just about to start construction in Melbourne, Fla. So, here in the Panhandle, this little jewel, we want to reintroduce Bennigan’s.”

Mangiamele admitted Bennigan’s “suffered from “brand drift’” in 2008 when the brand seem to get lost with all the other similar type brands and filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2008.

However, Mangiamele said he expects a full recovery of the brand name.

“We’re revolutionizing casual dinning,” Mangiamele said. “I think causal dinning has been in a coma for about seven to 10 years.”

Besides Florida, the restaurant chain is looking to add at least one new location each in Texas, Tennessee and Virginia.

Mangiamele has served in the same capacity with Salsarita’s Inc., the Fresh Cantina and Aegis Investment Management (Golf) Inc.